§ 6. Sandra Gidley (Romsey)If he will make a statement on the sexual health strategy. [26365]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Yvette Cooper)Consultation on the sexual health and HIV strategy ended on 21 December. An action plan is being developed. In addition, we have started to prepare for implementation by asking health authorities to undertake a baseline review, and by seeking expressions of interest in chlamydia screening.
§ Sandra GidleyIs not the truth that the long-awaited strategy is little more than an HIV/AIDS strategy with a teenage pregnancy policy added on? Worthy as those matters are, should not the strategy include issues such as sexual dysfunction and endometriosis, which have a huge impact on people's lives? Most damaging, there is little emphasis in the strategy on barrier methods of contraception. I am glad that chlamydia screening has been mentioned because chlamydia rates have doubled in the past five years, along with those for other sexually transmitted diseases. But is it not too little, too late? Is not the Government's record the sexual equivalent of fiddling while Rome burns?
§ Yvette CooperI completely disagree. It is the first time that this country has ever had a comprehensive sexual health strategy. It covers issues around all kinds of sexually transmitted infections, contraception and abortion. It sets clear targets, including on preventing new transmissions of gonorrhoea. It has been widely welcomed across the country for focusing not simply on prevention but on integrating prevention and HIV/AIDS and sexual health services.
§ Ms Meg Munn (Sheffield, Heeley)Will my hon. Friend join me in congratulating young people in my constituency who have been involved in producing the local sexual health strategy? Does she agree that involving young people in producing such strategies is the best way 737 to ensure that they are relevant to their needs and deal with issues around sexual health and reducing teenage pregnancy?
§ Yvette CooperI welcome the work to which my hon. Friend refers. It is true that a lot of the work on prevention is effective only when the groups at whom the work is aimed are involved in its development. With teenage pregnancies and preventing teenage pregnancies, it is particularly important to get teenagers involved. We are aware of the broad health impact of teenage pregnancies not simply on teenagers but on their children. That is why it is so important to keep on bringing the rates down.